Denver Post Yanks Gardner Endorsement After His National Emergency Capitulation

UNITED STATES - APRIL 25: Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., speaks with Roll Call in his office in the Russell Senate Office Building on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The editorial board for the Denver Post rescinded its 2014 endorsement of Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) Thursday after the senator sided with President Donald Trump on the national emergency declaration.

“Gardner has been too busy walking a political tightrope to be a leader,” the board writes. “He has become precisely what we said in our endorsement he would not be: ‘a political time-server interested only in professional security.’”

“These are extraordinary times,” it continues. “This is a bogus emergency that takes executive overreach to an extreme not seen even under President Barack Obama. Trump’s declaration is an abuse of his power, a direct overturning of Congress’ deliberate decision to pass a federal budget without funding for a wall. Put simply this is a constitutional crisis and one of Colorado’s two senators has failed the test.”

The editorial ends on a stinging note.

“Gardner was a never-Trumper in the primary who in recent months endorsed the president’s re-election campaign even as Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation continues to unveil the worst of this administrations web of lies and deceit. Tuesday’s vote was the last straw,” the board concludes. “We no longer know what principles guide the senator and regret giving him our support in a close race against Mark Udall.”

Gardner narrowly beat former Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) in 2014. He is widely considered one of the most vulnerable senators up for reelection in 2020.

Twelve Senate Republicans sided with Democrats on Thursday to reject Trump’s national emergency declaration. Gardner was not among them.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. I believe the Colorado seat is one targeted by Dems. I heard on Morning Joe that of all the Senate Seats that Dems think they have a shot at sided with Trump on this except Collins. Either she’s the only one smart enough or scared enough to realize their time is up.

    I really hope we get the AZ, CO and ME seats + 3 more.

  2. Let’s remember to throw out the U.S. Representatives, not only the senators, who voted against this bill to stop the wall. This list includes the Colorado U.S. Rep.Scott Tipton. This spineless dishonest rich boy from Cortez, CO needs to be thrown out along with the toilet waste in 2020 too.

  3. They couldn’t help not mentioning Pres. Obama, but kudos for calling Gardner out.

    “These are extraordinary times,” it continues. “This is a bogus emergency that takes executive overreach to an extreme not seen even under President Barack Obama. Trump’s declaration is an abuse of his power, a direct overturning of Congress’ deliberate decision to pass a federal budget without funding for a wall. Put simply this is a constitutional crisis and one of Colorado’s two senators has failed the test.”

  4. “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Gardner is acting in his own interests, not those of the voters.

  5. The way things are going for him, by 2020 Gardner will be lucky to even be able to score some weed in Colorado.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

12 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for philrm Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for losamigos Avatar for breakingdeadmen Avatar for sanni Avatar for tibetancowboy Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for benthere Avatar for clauscph Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for nobiru Avatar for morrigan_2575 Avatar for forcryinoutloud Avatar for rascal_crone

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: